Telegraph-key.



R. L. .BOULTER.

TELEGRAPH KEY.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.2,1913.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

2'SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'IHE Noun/5 PETERb co PIlO'I'O-LVTHQ, \VASHINGTON, n. 4'.

R., L. BOULTER.

TELEGRAPH KEY APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2. 1913 Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

2 SHEETS SHEET 2.

YHE NORRIS PETERS CO, PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROYAL L. BOULTER, 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TELEGRAr -KEY. A

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROYAL L. BoUL'rnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telegraph-Keys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telegraph keys.

The present invention relates to that class of telegraph keys known as transmitters or vibrators which employ a vibratory reed in connection with a key for the purpose of automatically making the dots to relieve the operator of the repeated finger and wrist movements;necessary with the ordinary telegraph key when making a series of dots. This class oftransmitter also employs a separate key for forming dashes. The two keys are, in most transmitters at present known to the art, arranged for movement laterally or sidewise, as contradistinguished from the up and down movement of the old type of telegraph key, and they are particularly designed for sending messages rapidly with a minimum efforton the part of the operator, but are particularly useful to-operators having writers cramp or telegraphers paralysis.

The present invention-is an improvement on the telegraph key set forth in my application Serial No. 714794, filed August 13,

ferred to, transmitters of this type, while superior in many respects to the old style Morse key, have been incapable of such adjustment as to adapt them for both fast and slow work and for use on both long and short lines; they have been subject to the involuntary formation of what operators term split dots owing to the quick vibrations of the vibrator or reed which occur before the lever is released, particularly in letters of the alphabet having but one dot such as A and N and they have usually also been complicated, have occupied considerable space and are liable to derangement.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a transmitter or vibrator telegraph key which will be simple, compact, strong, durable, susceptible of any desired adjustment of the contacts, and particularly those used for forming dots- Another object of the invention is the provision, in a telegraph transmitter or vi- Specification of Letters Patent. V Patented Sept. 15, 1914. Application filed September 2, 1913. Serial No. 787,696; I

brator, of novel,' adjustable dot producing means combined with a vibrator in a new manner and susceptibleof adjustment within a widefrange which will be adapted to make a single dot as in the ordinary or l forse key, the vibrator having nothing to do with the making of a single dot, and to produce a plurality of dots automatically without possibility of sending split ,dots. w

The dot making mechanism embodies means whereby when the dot key is operated, the electrical circuit is closed through the contacts except when periodically opened automatically by the vibrations of the vibrator due to the new contact employed and the new manner in which the vibrator cooperates with said contact, whereby the circuit is automatically and regularly opened by the vibrations of the Vibrator with short intermittent interruptions. This construction results in closing of the circuit for a maximum of time and the sending of the longest and heaviest dots possible, so far as I am aware, in any vibratory transmitting telegraph instrument. At the same time, the construction is such that a single dot is formed as with an ordinary Morse key.

The instrument is adapted for slow or fast work and on either short or long circuits. I

The present invention is designed to simplify, eheapen, and lighten the construction of the vibratory reed, and the tapping mechanlsm which is characteristic of the invention of my application Serial No. 714794, to

thereby render the vibratory reed more sensitive, easier to finger and adaptable for finer adjustment with less liability of derangement than with'my earlier invention set forth in application Serial No. 7 147 94.

The present invention also. represents improvements in the pivots or trunnions of both the dot and dash keys and the spring tensioningi means therefor, whereby either a relatively heavy or light tension may be obtained.

An embodiment adapted to carry out the objects of the present invention and its improvements is set forth fully hereinafter and the novel features are recited in the appended claims.

1 In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan View of the] complete instrument; Fig. 2, a bottom View thereof; Figs. 3 and 4, opposite side elevatiohsyFig. 5 a perspective of the vibrator, its frame, and

operating key aloneiF 1g. 6, a. section on line 6-6, Fig. 1 through the bob or weight; Fig. 7 a section on line -7-7, Fig. 1; Fig. '8, a section on line S-8-, Fig. 1; Fig. 9, a section on line 99, Fig. 1; Fig. 10, a hori- Zontal section through the standards, showing the tension adjusting screws for the keys, and Fig. 11, a horizontal section through the joint connecting the keys to their frames and springs.

The base 1 is preferably of metal to form apart of the circuit, one of the binding posts 2 being connected thereto, the other binding post 3 being insulated therefrom. The adjustable dash contact 4 andthe adjustable dot contact 5 are in circuit with the binding post 3 by the connections 6. A circuit closer is shown at 7.

The open frame of the dot lever is shown at 8 and that of the dash lever at 9. The said levers have respective bearings 10 and 11 which receive the pointsof pivots 12 and 13 which are carried by studs shown respectively at 14 and 15, the said studs passing loosely through the standards 16 and 17 which are connected to the base 1 by nuts 18 and are coupled together by screws 19 which have spacing members 20 interposed between the standards. 7

The studs 14 and 15 are provided with clamping nuts 21, whereby they may be clamped to the standards after adjustment. This manner of pivoting the levers enables hem to be delicately adjusted so that there is no lost motion at the pivots and it at the same time insures the disposition of the dot and dash contacts so that they will cooperate with those on the base.

The frames 8 and 9 are open as shown at 22. Disposed in the open portions are leaf springs 23 and 24 which have their ends set in recesses 25 and secured to the frames 8 and 9 by the same screws 26 which fasten the respective finger pieces or keys 27 and 28 to the frames 8 and 9.

The finger pieces have parts received in the recesses 25 and these finger pieces also overlap extensions on the frames 8 and 9 and likewise abut the ends of said frames. To the respective standards are secured brackets 29 and 30 in which are journaled screws 31 and 32. The respective screws are threaded through fingers 33 and 34 sothat by turning the screws the fingers will move in one direction or the other. These fingers are prevented from falling and are maintained in upright position by engagement with the respective brackets against which they slide. Interposed between the fingers and the respective leaf springs 23 and 24 are coil springs 35 and 36 whose ends engage openings in the fingers and the said leaf springs. By turning the thumb adjusting screws, the fingers are moved and the coil springs placed under greater or lesser tension, which in turn is imparted to the leaf springs and by them to the frames 8 and 9, whereby the reactive tension on the key levers may be regulated to suit the touch of the operator. The combination of the coil springs with the leaf springs affords a greater and superior tension and cushioning effect on the key levers than would be the case if the leaf springs were omitted and by reason of the fact that these leaf springs are only connected to the frames 8 and 9 at the outer ends of said leaf springs or at points distant from the engagement of the coil springs with the leaf springs, the tension is imparted by a yielding leverage, as it were, which, acting upon the key levers at points relatively distant from the pivots of said key levers, affords any desired tension without having to position the coil springs or the adjusting screws where they would interfere with the operators fingers.

The dash lever or frame is arrested by an adjustable stop 37 which limits its play due to the spring tension. The dot lever is arrested when its key is fingered, by an adjustable screw 33.

The vibrator or reed 39 is of inherently springy or resilient material, being provided or ribbon spring 43 which is inherently parts 41 which are connected to the dot lever frame 8, preferably by insertion in a split portion thereof and by riveting thereto at 42.

Secured to the dot lever frame 8 and preferably located between the parts 41 is a leaf or ribbon spring 43 which is inherently flexible or resilient and which tends to flex toward the dot contact 5. Secured to this spring cushion 43 is a contact frame or head 44 which has a platinum contact 45 adapted to engage contact 5, the said frame straddling the vibrator and carrying an adjustable tapping or anvil screw 46 which, due to the flexing tendency of the leaf spring 43 is normally in engagement with the vibrator. Consequently, when the dot key is tapped or moved lightly, the vibrator and the ribbon or leaf spring and the tapping member move as an entirety and but a single dot is formed, but if the pressure of the thumb is retained, the sudden arrest of the vibrator by the engagement of the contacts 5 and 45 sets the vibrator into vibration' and the tapping action which ensues causes the said contacts to be automatically and periodically separated, thereby producing a plurality of dots, the number of which is determined by the length of time the dot key is held.

To regulate the vibrations of the vibrator, I provide an adjustable weight or bob 47 consisting of two knurled nuts, one of which carries a screw-threaded stem 48 which passes through the slot 40 and the other having a screw-threaded engagement with said from the base 1 and a bar 50 connecting them and provided with a fiber or insulating strip 51' against which the stem of the bob strikes. The provision of this non-metallic member 51 deadens the soundof the arrest of the vibrator.

The forefinger is used to operate the dash key and the thumb the dot key, the movement of the hand being in a general lateral direction. When a dash is to be formed, the dash key is pressed. When a single dot V is to be formed, the dot key is tapped or As a result of the present construction, I

am able to produce, so far as I am aware,

the longest and heaviest dots which it has;

been possible to make on a transmitter key, as the circuit is closed fora maximum period of time during the travel of the vibrator and I thereby avoid the formation of I split dots, but at the sametime gain all the advantages of the formation of a single dot without any danger of splitting the dot in that event.

It will be observed that in the formation of dots, the operation is different from that in vibrating transmitters heretofore known, as the movement of the key on the application of pressure thereto at once effects an initial positive engagement of the dot sending contacts. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a telegraph transmitter, the combi nation with an operating key, of a vibrator connected thereto and movable therewith, a leaf or ribbon spring connected to and movable with the key, whereby said key,

vibrator and leaf or ribbon spring are adapted to move together as an entirety, a contact carried by the leaf or ribbon spring, and means carried by said leaf or ribbon spring adapted to cooperate with the vibrator and arranged and adapted so that said vibrator is adapted to deliver taps thereon.

l 2. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with a pivoted key lever, of a viand loosely embracing a portion of the vibrator blade, a contact carried by said tapping head, and a tapping member carried by said head and adapted .to cooperate with the vibrator, whereby the vibrator is adapted to impart taps to said head.

7 3. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with an operating' key, of a leaf springsecured thereto and carried thereby and having a free part, and adjustable means for tensioning the free part of said spring to thereby yieldingly hold the operating key.

i. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with an operating key, of a leaf spring secured thereto and having a free part, a coil spring cooperating with the free part of said leaf spring, and an abutment for said coil spring.

5. In a telegraph transmitter, the combination with an operating key, of a leaf spring secured thereto and having a free part, an adjustable finger, and a coilspring interposed between said finger and a free part of said leaf spring.

6. In a telegraph key,"the combination with a key lever having pivot sockets, of a standard, studs rockably carried by said standards and provided with trunnions entering the sockets aforesaid, and nuts for clamping said studs in different positions.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my. signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROYAL L. BOULTER. V \Vitnesses:

RAYMOND A. ZELL, FRANK L. Cross.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addresr' 11; the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington. D. G. V

by a free part of the leaf or ribbon spring 

